Restart For NI Executive Meetings Welcomed

There has been a broad welcome for news that the DUP and Sinn Féin have come to an agreement on the devolution of policing and justice which will bring a 152-day deadlock at Stormont to an end.

The Executive will now meet this Thursday and again on a weekly basis until business is up to date.

First Minister Peter Robinson (pictured) said there had been "a satisfactory resolution of the most difficult issues". His deputy, Martin McGuinness said "significant progress" had been made. The news has emerged after the pair met the Assembly and Executive Review Committee which has already been discussing the devolution of policing and justice.

The fresh move came on foot of Assembly members yesterday demanding an 'immediate' meeting of the stalled Stormont Executive.

However, while details of the deal are only just emerging, it has been confirmed that an Attorney General is to be appointed for Northern Ireland.

Currently, the post holder for England and Wales also holds the post for Northern Ireland.

The two ministers have announced they are "minded to invite" John Larkin QC to take the post.

Overall too, the deal doesn't yet amount to a complete timetable, but temporary cross-party arrangements for electing a Justice Minister will be in place until the permanent appointment rules are made by May 2012.

In a joint letter from the DUP and Sinn Fein party leaders to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, Mr Robinson and Mr McGuiness said: "We have agreed certain arrangements for the discharge of policing and justice functions by the Assembly."

They said that a new independent department to be known as the Department of Justice will take up the powers, and the two ministers said they will meet with the NIO and the Prime Minister to discuss funding for the new body.

Gordon Brown has already thanked the pair for their "statesmanship".

"I believe that Northern Ireland will now send a signal of hope to the rest of the world that even the most difficult problems that cause the most hard negotiations and difficult times can be resolved," he said.

His views were echoed by NIO Secretary of State Shaun Woodward who said the move was "historic".

The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board has also welcomed today's announcement. Professor Sir Desmond Rea said: "This is welcome news, and I have no doubt that there will be a sense of relief right across the community that the political deadlock of the last number of months has been worked through and resolved.

"The people of Northern Ireland want to see the Executive fully functioning and working on behalf of all of the people on the issues that affect everyday lives.

"The future devolution of policing and justice forms a key part of that, and the process put in place today to facilitate this is to be welcomed.

"The Board looks forward to working with the Assembly and Executive Review Committee in respect of this," he said.

Meanwhile, Irish Premier, Brian Cowen has also welcomed the end of the five-month political stalemate.

The Taoiseach said the successful devolution of policing and justice powers would be the "final piece of the jigsaw of the peace process" and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin also welcomed the resolution, saying the agreement was an important step for Northern Ireland in moving away from the difficulties of the past and becoming a fully normalised society.

See: Heat Turned Up On 'Cold House' At Stormont